Why Some Rooms Feel Uplifting—and Others Feel Like a Drain

(Hint: It’s the Light)

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt more awake? Like your brain just took a deep breath?

And then there’s the opposite. The spaces that feel heavy.Draining. Like someone dimmed your internal brightness the minute you entered.

It’s not always the layout. Or the furniture. It’s the lighting.

Lighting is one of the most underrated tools in interior design—and one of the most powerful when it comes to how a space feels. Not just how it looks in pictures. How it actually makes you feel to exist in it.

Because light doesn’t just help you see.It shapes your mood, your energy, your focus—even your sense of time and space.

Natural Light: The Original Mood Booster

Let’s start with the best kind of light: sunlight.Natural light regulates your circadian rhythm, lifts your mood, and makes spaces feel more expansive and alive.

It’s why homes with big windows and skylights feel fresh. Why morning light streaming in makes your coffee taste better. Why you gravitate toward that one sun-drenched corner to read or work or nap (or scroll Instagram with a sense of purpose).

If your space gets natural light—use it well. Keep windows unobstructed, play with sheer curtains, and let the daylight spill in. It’s free therapy.

But what if your space isn’t blessed with all-day sunlight?That’s where artificial lighting becomes your design superpower.

Cool Light vs Warm Light: And Why It Matters

Lighting has colour temperatures—yes, like moods. And the kind of light you use can completely shift the way your body and brain respond to a room.

• Cool, white light (4000K–6500K) mimics daylight. It keeps you alert, sharp, and focused.Think: kitchens, home offices, studios, laundry rooms. Anywhere that says, “Let’s get stuff done.”

• Warm light (2700K–3000K) is slower, softer, and way more forgiving.It says: “Let’s wind down.” Ideal for bedrooms, reading corners, living rooms, or anywhere you want to feel relaxed and human again.

Now here’s the trick: it’s not either-or. It’s about layering.

The Secret? Light a Room Like You’d Style an Outfit

Every great outfit has balance—structure and softness, texture and ease. Lighting should do the same.

Start with ambient light (your general overhead lighting), add task lights (like reading lamps or pendant lights over counters), and sprinkle in some accent lighting (like wall sconces, LED strips, or candles if you're feeling extra).

Layering light creates depth. It gives your space flexibility.And it makes sure your room isn’t stuck in “conference call mode” at 9pm.

Think:

• A warm glow from a floor lamp for slow evenings

• Bright white under-cabinet lights for chopping onions without drama

• A dimmable pendant that shifts with your mood (and your playlist)

Good Lighting = Good Design (and Sanity)

Lighting affects how big a space feels. How cosy it feels.Whether your brain decides to switch on—or switch off.

So next time a room feels off, don’t just look at the cushions or paint colour.Look at the light. Where it’s coming from, what tone it carries, and how it’s making you feel.

Because in the end, light isn’t just functional.It’s emotional.And the right kind of glow? It doesn’t just light up a room—it lights you up too.

TL;DR: Light doesn’t just help you see. It helps you feel.

And how a room feels will always be more powerful than how it looks.

So the next time a space makes you feel energized, calm, inspired, or downright cranky—look up. Or sideways. Or toward that little corner lamp that finally earned its keep.

Because when it comes to your mood and mental clarity, lighting is never just a backdrop.It’s the main character.

PS: Want to go even deeper into design psychology?[Click here to binge the whole Psychology of Space series.]

Or come say hi on [Instagram] where I talk about these things in stories while fighting with tangled wires and chasing sunlight for the perfect shot.